Cold weather allowed the Skico to resume snowmaking on Aspen Mountain and at Snowmass, and the snow guns fired throughout the day on the race course for Thanksgiving weekend women’s World Cup races on Aspen Mountain.

After a lull in the precipitation on Saturday, the storm will bring another round of snow in the mountains, and rain and snow in the valleys through Sunday afternoon, according to the weather service. The heaviest snowfall is expected in the mountains south of Interstate 70 — an area that includes Aspen. Total snowfall accumulations of 8 to 16 inches are possible, according to the weather service.

In town, the weather service was calling for another 3 to 5 inches Saturday night, with lows of 15 to 25. Snow, with accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, was expected Sunday with highs in the 20s. Monday’s forecast called for mostly sunny skies and highs in the 30s.

The snow piled up in Aspen late Friday. By Saturday morning, the snowfall had tapered off in Aspen, but it was dumping in the midvalley. By 3:30 p.m. Saturday, heavy snow was falling in the midvalley, but had not yet resumed in Aspen.

Source: http://www.aspentimes.com/

Snowmass and Aspen Mountain are scheduled to open on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22.  Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk are scheduled to open Saturday, December 8.

There are exciting changes in store for the 2007-2008 winter season at Aspen/Snowmass with $25.5 million in improvements.  Snowmass will be the focal point with the first phase of the new base village coming online, including The Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center, a rental/retail shop and ticket offices. Elk Camp Meadows learning area will also open at Snowmass this season.

Aspen/Snowmass will once again host the best women ski racers in the world Dec. 7-9, during the 2007 Aspen Winternational FIS Women’s World Cup. This year’s event will feature both speed and technical races, including the first women’s downhill in Aspen in nearly 20 years, along with super G and slalom races. The races will be the focal point of a weekend packed with additional events including a Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert, gondola plaza festivals, fireworks and parties.

This winter ski or ride Aspen/Snowmass for less than $40 per day with the Aspen/Snowmass Classic Pass.  Click here for more details.  http://www.aspensnowmass.com/classicpass/. Classic Passes are on sale this weekend, October 27-28, at Colorado Ski & Golf in Arvada and at Gene Taylor Sports in Grand Junction.

Source: Aspen Skiing Company

Snowmass and Aspen Mountain are scheduled to open on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22.  Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk are scheduled to open Saturday, December 8.

There are exciting changes in store for the 2007-2008 winter season at Aspen/Snowmass with $25.5 million in improvements.  Snowmass will be the focal point with the first phase of the new base village coming online, including The Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center, a rental/retail shop and ticket offices. Elk Camp Meadows learning area will also open at Snowmass this season.

Aspen/Snowmass will once again host the best women ski racers in the world Dec. 7-9, during the 2007 Aspen Winternational FIS Women’s World Cup. This year’s event will feature both speed and technical races, including the first women’s downhill in Aspen in nearly 20 years, along with super G and slalom races. The races will be the focal point of a weekend packed with additional events including a Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert, gondola plaza festivals, fireworks and parties.

This winter ski or ride Aspen/Snowmass for less than $40 per day with the Aspen/Snowmass Classic Pass.  Click here for more details.  http://www.aspensnowmass.com/classicpass/

Source: Aspen Skiing Company

The field is limited to 125 adult racers and 25 juniors. Register at the Aspen Highlands Guest Services booth from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the base of the mountain. Day-of-race registration at the Guest Services booth closes promptly at 9 a.m. (but late registration continues at the Ski Patrol PHQ until the start). Registration costs $30 and includes an “Inferno 7” T-shirt (with artwork by Highlands patroller Steve “Remo” Williams), raffle entry and prize giveaways at the awards party. Juniors will need a parent/guardians’ signature to register.

The Aspen Highlands Ski Patrol, the Inferno’s sanctioning body, is also seeking volunteers to help stage the race. Please call 544-3062 for more information about volunteer opportunities.

Racers should be at the top of Loge Peak chairlift by 9:45 a.m. on race day for a pre-race briefing. Racer lift tickets are available for $42, and racers will be provided with a secure area to store gear (at the base if the Deep Temerity lift) during the race.

The race features mass starts according to division. The route remains much the same: Start at to top of the Deep Temerity chairlift; descend Broadway past the Patrol Monument to the base of Mousetrap; ascend Mousetrap; pick up skis/boards on the way past the PHQ; climb the ridge to the peak; descend Highland Bowl through the 16 “control gates” and the run-out to the finish line at the bottom of the Deep Temerity lift. All told, the route includes 840 vertical-feet of climbing and 2,512 feet of down-hilling.

Racers are strongly encouraged to wear helmets, and racers must have leashes or brakes for skis (tele or alpine) or snowboards. Only one (1) pair of boots may be used by each racer, and racers must keep skis/boards in line with their bodies during the hike - not across their bodies. Also, gear must not flail more than one-and-a-half feet outside of racers’ bodies; violators will be DQ’d.

As usual, the post-race awards party is slated for 4:20 p.m. at the base of Highlands.

Call the “Inferno Hotline” at 970-544-3048 for the latest information on the race.

The descent route will be marked with bamboo poles beginning Thursday so that racers might familiarize themselves with the actual line. Racers can also ride the lift up early, beginning at 8 a.m. on race day, to inspect the course.

Source: Aspen Skiing Company